Asheville, North Carolina News

Archive for the ‘nature’ Category

ASHEVILLE, NC – Remember how fun it was to explore nature as a child? The NC Arboretum invites families to participate in its birthday party program, offering safe adventure amid 434 acres of natural beauty and a fun, guided celebration that everyone will treasure for years to come.

The Arboretum’s birthday parties for ages 5 and up feature a 75-minute guided program of your choice along with 45 minutes for cake and a gift celebration. All programs are led by an expert environmental educator and take place in the Arboretum’s interactive children’s classroom as well as outside along the trails, creeks, pond, gardens and woodlands.

Party themes include:

Outdoor Adventure: Children embark on a short hike along the Arboretum’s trails as we learn how to build survival shelters and navigate with a compass. Party favors include a compass and bandanna for each child.

Bug Hunt: Participants get up close and personal with our collection of live invertebrates in the classroom, then head out to discover the amazing insects that call our pond, fields and woodlands home. Party favors include a magnifying lense and bug box for each child.

Wildlife of the Woods: Junior wildlife biologists will be thrilled by hands-on reptile and amphibian demonstrations, a wildlife match-up game, and a guided wildlife walk. Party favorsinclude a pair of binoculars and magnifying lense for each child.

Custom parties are also available, just let us know what your child would love to explore!

Parties are available on Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. One adult for every 10 children are required to attend the guided program. Families may arrive 30 minutes prior to the party to decorate tables, chairs and the chalkboard (for the ecological reasons, no balloons allowed). A maximum of 24 children and 15 adults may attend. Party favors are available at an additional cost of $2.50 per child. Parties must be booked three weeks prior to the celebration. Parking fees are waived for
participants.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Come to Hey Day, on Saturday, October 10th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road in East Asheville. We’ve made the event a little greener with the addition of demonstrations on solar energy, chicken tractors, sustainable agriculture and water catchment. While being educated, families can still enjoy our special visiting animals and the following local entertainers:

– Jay Brown (10 a.m. – 11 a.m.) Founding member of the old time, swing band Lazybirds, Jay has toured throughout the southeast and as far as Alaska and has performed at festivals such as Merle Fest, Bele Chere and the Rhythm & Roots Reunion. He has shared the stage with artists including Doc Watson, Ritchie Havens, Gillian Welch and Sam Bush.

– Mountain Thunder Cloggers (11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) dance to many types of music – from Bluegrass & Country to 80s/Pop/Hip-Hop. A family-oriented team, they encourage the families watching them to join in!

– Haw Creek String Band (11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) Whoop it up to the music of the Haw Creek String Band, featuring banjoist Brad Searson and ole time fiddler Bob Hill

John Bowers and David Ray (guitar/mandolin) (1:30 – 2 p.m.) play a mellow alternative country genre and play weekends only.

Sherry Lynn and the Mountain Friends Band (2 – 3 p.m.) play acoustic country and contemporary bluegrass. This is a strong team that combines fine musicianship and pure joy, giving audiences a highly entertaining show.

Mark DeVerges (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.) is a true balloon artist. He will create a massive custom object/animal/creature right before the audience with the help of many volunteers in a way that incorporates science, education, and visual art! Following the show, Mark will amaze the kids with his award winning balloon twisting!

Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for children, and FREE to Members of Friends of the Nature Center. Scrumptious food will be available at the Classroom Café onsite, so families can spend the whole day! This year’s generous Hey Day Gold level sponsors include Animal Hospital of Reems Creek, Harrington Electric Company and Dr. Ryan Haldeman, Orthodontist. Silver level sponsors include ABC Pediatrics, Allergy Partners of Asheville, Steven Cahan, Eye M.D., Greenworks Healing Center, Doug Sherry with Preferred Properties and the Toy Box. Media sponsors include Advantage Printing, Mountain Xpress and WOXL-FM.

All proceeds benefit the Friends of the WNC Nature Center’s College Summer Internship program. The Friends’ mission is to support the programs, facilities and the residents of the Western North Carolina Nature Center, which showcases the fauna and flora of the southern Appalachian region. The Nature Center’s mission is to educate the public about the flora and fauna of Western North Carolina and foster an interest in the conservation of native plants and animals. . The Center is operated by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department of the City of Asheville. For more information on the Friends or Hey Day, contact Sarah Oram, Director, at (828) 298-5600 ext. 308

ASHEVILLE, NC – Here is your opportunity to stay at the WNC Nature Center overnight in your tent or in the safety of our Main Exhibit Building with the snakes, turtles, lizards and salamanders.

Join the WNC Nature Center’s education department for an evening of fun, food, and folly and camp all night under the stars on August 07, 2009 to August 08, 2009. Arrive at 6:00pm to set up your tent by the deer lot and get settled in.

Programs include:

a trek out to the wolf compound to investigate wolf ecology

an exploration how animals use their senses in the cover of darkness

create some clay-mation animals that you take home

snacks & story telling around our log cabin fire

In the morning, participants will be treated to a continental breakfast at 7:30 am followed by packing up our sleeping gear, tents, and belongings.

Please call (828) 298-5600, ext 305 to make your required reservations immediately as this event will fill quickly. Cost is $35.00 per child and $25.00 per adult.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Nature’s art comes to life at the NC Arboretum during a special exhibit featuring works by members of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association, opening August 14 at the Education Center’s second-floor gallery.

The exhibit, which runs through November 15, promotes an appreciation of our natural gifts and treasures.

The Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) has an ongoing effort to preserve the environment of the Carolinas through photography. The association sponsors and is involved in many projects that promote protection and understanding of the environment.

Members learn and share their skills through networking, workshops, field outings and meetings.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Nature’s art comes to life at the North Carolina Arboretum during a special exhibit featuring works by members of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association, opening August 14 at the Education Center’s second-floor gallery.

The exhibit, which runs through November 15, promotes an appreciation of our natural gifts and treasures. The Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) has an ongoing effort to preserve the environment of the Carolinas through photography. The association sponsors and is involved in many projects that promote protection and understanding of the environment.

Members learn and share their skills through networking, workshops, field outings and meetings.